Joe Roach, Signal's administration president, who presented the award to Crowley Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Bill Pennella, told the Signal board of directors and executives from represented companies in attendance that the Safety Excellence Award is given only to companies that demonstrate initiative and outstanding safety performance. It is not an annual presentation.

Pennella and Charlie Nalen, Crowley's vice president of environmental safety and quality assurance, were congratulated for the success of the company's safety programs, which have had a positive impact in reducing claims and losses. In 2008, Nalen was also named Signal Mutual's first Safety Professional of the Year.

Crowley created an Operational Excellence Management System, an integration of the OHSAS 18001 standard for occupational health and safety management; ISO 9001 quality assurance program; the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Control (ISM Code); the American Waterways Operators (AWO) Responsible Carrier Program (RCP) and the ISO 14001 environmental management system.

Established in January 1986, Signal Mutual Indemnity Association is the largest provider of longshore benefits in the United States and boasts over 200 member companies.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 117-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company that provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services.